The word that God gives His children is taken from 2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” (ERV)
I would like to highlight a few words from the above mentioned verse. The first on is ‘through Christ’ God leads us into victory. We triumph through Christ, because it is only through Christ that we have peace with God. The second one is ‘leads us in victory.’ This victory is not for only for certain times, but a victory that we can enjoy always. The third part is that God uses us to ‘spread his knowledge everywhere.’
We must bear in mind that God enables us to triumph at all times. For many people the experiences of the past two years, the problems and calamities may cloud their mind. God encourages us to forget all that is behind, and to move forward, fixing our eyes on the Lord Jesus. The question is, ‘Are we going to dwell on our past experiences or are we going to trust the word of God?’ Let us make a decision to hold on firmly to the word of God, irrespective of what the past couple of years have been. God has chosen us in Christ, and we are assured that through Christ we will be led into victory. As we place our trust in the Lord, He will do mighty things in our lives this year. We will not face failure, but victory because the Lord is with us, and this victory is ours always, and for every situation we encounter.
In these days failure and success are defined one way, but the way God defines it is very different. The reason for this is that as human beings our knowledge is limited, and as we go through various circumstances, we can only perceive things as we see them. We as humans know what happened in our past and the present, but have no clue as to what the future holds. Since God knows the past, present and the future He alone can determine what failure will be, and what success is.
Let me place a few examples from the bible so we can understand this better.
David
David was an ordinary shepherd boy while his brothers were enrolled in the army. In the eyes of the world David was a simple shepherd who was a failure, and his brothers were successful men who served in the King’s army. At the right time, God raised David from being a mere shepherd boy to becoming a mighty warrior. God did not end here, for He further elevated David to become King over Israel. There was further honor for David when the Lord Jesus came in the ancestry of David.
Think about it that when one goes through some situations, the world may declare that they are a failure, but in God’s eyes they are a success. We see that failure and success and defined differently by God. It doesn’t matter how your life looks, just tell God that you will set aside all of the failures of the past believing that God will make you triumph in future.
Moses
Moses was brought up in the palace of Pharaoh as a prince for forty long years. However, Moses landed up in the wilderness, and was reduced to being an ordinary shepherd. The people of Egypt and others may have thought that this was a huge failure for Moses. Nonetheless, the forty years in the wilderness was the foundation for Moses to be raised to be the leader of Israel for the next forty years. God prepared Moses in those forty years, and used Moses to stand before Pharaoh, to break-down his mighty authority. What no one could do for more than four hundred years God did through Moses, and brought the Israelites to victory.
Though some of our years may appear to be futile and wasted, remember that these are the years that God has prepared to bring us into victory. Even if you have not accomplished anything up until now, believe in the Lord to fulfill His word and bring victory in your life.
Joseph
We read about Joseph whose brothers thought that they had finished off with Joseph when they threw him into the pit, and later sold him off as a slave. In the next stage Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Everyone would have thought that all was over for Joseph, but God had a great plan for Joseph. Every experience that Joseph went through was used as a foundation to raise him up, and none of it deterred the plans of God. God elevated Joseph to become a leader next only to Pharaoh King of Egypt. The brothers who hated him were made to bow before Joseph, and beg him for their food and sustenance. There is nothing impossible with God. We hear nothing about Potiphar or his wife, but we are still speaking about Joseph. Remember that the God we worship is one who will certainly lead us into victory.
Daniel
Daniel was a minister under a king in a foreign land. He became the target of jealousy, and an edict was passed just to land Daniel in a den full of hungry lions. Nothing stopped Daniel from praying to God, and when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, his enemies thought that they had done away with Daniel. However, that foreign king came to know who Daniel was, and also the living God whom Daniel worshipped for God transformed an adverse situation to become one that favored Daniel.
We have a God who always leads us into triumph. Ask God to help see success and failure as He perceives it. Let us not allow the ups and downs that come our way to make us falter, but decide to hold on firmly to the promised of God, and overcome every obstacle by faith.
Gideon
We read about Gideon who was so disheartened by the circumstances in which he was, that he thought that God had abandoned the people of Israel. As Gideon continued with his work, the angel of the Lord met with Gideon, and called him a mighty warrior. Gideon made conclusions based on his situations that surrounded him, but God had to remind him that he was no ordinary man. The Lord had to reassure Gideon that He was with him, and hence he had no need to fear his enemies. With just three hundred men, God defeated the mighty army of the Midianites. The Lord gives us victory and let us be thankful to the Lord for that.
The disciples of Jesus
In the early church the disciples of Jesus were in one accord praising and worshipping the Lord. The enemy did all he could to persecute them, and scatter them abroad. This situation may have appeared to be one that would crush these early believers from moving forward, but we read that the ones who were scattered shared the good news of the gospel wherever they went. The consequence was that God’s word spread speedily, and many came to know the Lord Jesus.
Everything that Satan brings into our lives for our evil, God will turn it around for our good. This too is precedent to prove that all the evil that is aimed at us, God will overcome and turn them for our victory.
Peter
The Apostle Peter was thrown into prison by King Herod. Herod thought that he would execute Peter, and everyone thought this was a crisis that Peter could never escape from. As the church prayed together, God heard the prayers of His people, and sent His angel to deliver Peter out of prison. Nothing changed for Peter who continued preaching the word of God whereas, we read that King Herod moved out of that place as he was filled with fear. The failure was not for Peter, but only for Herod.
Not only does God clothe us with victory, He also uses us to be those who will be a great blessing to many.
Paul
At one point the Apostle Paul too was imprisoned. Up until then Paul undertook several missionary journeys, and wherever he went he established the churches. As Paul languished in jail many thought it was the end for Paul. However, from that very prison Paul wrote so many letters which we see are a major portion of the scripture today. These scriptures are such a blessing to each one of us even today.
Remember that in every situation God will lead us in triumph. Let us trust in God’s word, and if we stand firm in this every single day of this year the Lord’s name will be glorified in and through our lives. God will fulfill all that He desires to do through us, and He is able to do this.
Where does this victory come from? Who does it belong to?
We read in 1 Chronicles 29:11, “Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you! The kingdom belongs to you, LORD! You are the head, the Ruler over everything.” (ERV)
David had made all the preparations for his son Solomon to build the temple of the Lord, and gave all the gold and silver that he could. When David had gathered all the people together, above are the words that David proclaimed in the assembly.
There were many experiences that David had been through. His beginnings were humble as a shepherd boy, and later the Lord empowered him to become a mighty warrior. The Lord chose him to become King over Israel. There was a period when David was hunted down by King Saul, and later in his life David’s son Absalom turned against his father. In the midst of all these changing circumstances, David continued to walk closely with the Lord. David learned to praise the Lord at all times, and worship Him no matter what happened. God was observing all of this and at the end of his life David testified about the Lord this way, “Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you! David realized through all of life’s experiences that victory came from the Lord alone.
We read further in 1 Chronicles 29:12, “Riches and honor come from you. You rule everything. You have the power and strength in your hand! And in your hand is the power to make anyone great and powerful!” (ERV)
There are two parts of this verse that I wish to highlight. The first is that riches and honor come from God. Secondly, God rules over everything, and it is in His hands to make anyone great and powerful. All through the bible we see that whenever His people were weak and burdened, the Lord strengthened them, raised them up and blessed them.
Even when Jesus was on this earth, He sought out those who were rejected, broken, sick and He helped, intervened and transformed their lives. As children of God remember that God is able to change all those things that you want to see transformed. The God of victory is with you all the time, and you can trust Him fully to keep His promises.
Be still in God’s presence
We read in Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (ESV)
It is only when we are still that we will be able to know that He is God. If we want to know who God is we must be willing to spend time in His presence. The greatest tragedy today is that sleep evades so many people because of worries, burdens from the present or guilt that they carry from their past. Let us learn to be still at the feet of Jesus. There are many who claim to be believers in Jesus, but don’t really know who He is, only because they are not willing to be still and wait on the Lord. Make a decision in this New Year that no matter what happens amidst all of your busy schedule, you will spend time with God in His presence. Begin the day with God, meditate on His word, and desire to get to know the Lord more intimately.
The disciples of Jesus left everything to follow after Jesus, but let me share an incident that happened in their lives that helped them understand who He really was.
Jesus suggested they cross over
We read in Mark 4:35, On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” (ESV)
The disciples of Jesus had spent the day witnessing miracles that Jesus had performed, and had heard His teachings on the Kingdom of God. At the end of the day when evening had come Jesus suggested that they go to the other side of the lake to get back to their own place.
The unmanageable storm
We read in Mark 4:37, “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.”(ESV)
Though some of the disciples of Jesus were fishermen, they were unable to cope with the storm. They were so engrossed with the furious storm, and were not aware that Jesus was on their boat.
There are many who are so caught up with life’s problems, and are so focused on it, that they have failed to see Jesus. As long as we are looking at these storms, and crying out in despair, there will be no hope for us.
Jesus is woken up
In Mark 4:38 we read, But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (ESV)
The disciples of Jesus tried to no avail, and when the boat started to fill with water only then they decided to wake Jesus up.
Oftentimes I have heard people complain as to why God is not concerned about the trials and hardships that they are facing. They wonder if God is not aware of what they are going through. The fact is that as long as you are trying to sort things out in your own strength there will no deliverance. If you call on the Lord, and lay all of your burdens at the feet of Jesus, He will deliver you, and will give you the victory.
Jesus calmed the storm
This is what happened in Mark 4:39, “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (ESV)
Something astounding happened for while the disciples tried to manage the situation, Jesus woke up to transform the situation from right within that boat.
There are many who have difficult marriages who think that they can solve the problem by opting out of the marriage. Instead, invite Jesus into your marriage, believing that the Lord can change the relationship, and make it healthy and happy. Some do this in their jobs too. When things become tough in one place instead of handling the problem they quit, and find something else. This sometimes goes on and on. One person told me that he had moved so many jobs and everywhere he went people were hostile to him. I told him, ‘if this is your experience in every place, then maybe the fault lies with you.’ Don’t try to run away from problems, but ask the Lord to change the situation. Ask God to give you peace in the place where you work.
The disciples wonder who Jesus is
We read in Mark 4:41, And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (ESV)
This was a strange question from a group of disciples who had left their all to follow Jesus. They were in awe that the wind and the sea obeyed Jesus at His word. They strived for so long and nothing came of it, but when they took their problem to Jesus, He could calm the storm with just a word.
Strangely, there are many believers who have been following Jesus for many long years, and others who pray to Him, but do not really know who He is. God is one, and there is one mediator between God and man, Jesus. If we want to go to the Father and want to enter heaven, it is possible only through Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead. Instead of giving our battles over to the Lord we are striving hard like the disciples, to no avail. Just lay it all at the feet of Jesus, your family, your job, your travel, your finances and everything that is not in order. When we do so the Lord will set everything aright. Make a list and write down all of all those things that are worrying you or troubling you. Go to God and tell Him that you are going to place them all at His feet. Do not worry, fret, or complain about these things. Believe that He will handle all of your hard situations and He will grant you the wisdom to deal with them. Take your eyes off your circumstances and fix them on Jesus instead.
Run to God all the time
We read in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (ESV)
We also read in Psalm 46:7, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”(ESV)
God is our fortress implies that whenever troubles come all that we need to do is just go into that fortress and we are safe. Often instead we try all sorts of things rather than simply run to the Lord. The God who gives us victory is with us, so let us be still and know that He is God.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 46:9, “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” (ESV)
God is the one who makes wars cease, and not our strategies or reasoning. The Lord can make all of our battles end by just leaving them at His feet. In that latter part of the verse we read that God breaks the bow and shatters the spear and burns the chariots with fire. All that is against us God can overthrow, and keep in mind that the God who can make us move on in triumphal procession is with us.
Let me read this verse again from 2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” (ERV) Every day of this year go forward with the victory that God will give to you.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
